Purse redistribution forthcoming after ineligible runner

DEL MAR, Calif. – A portion of the purse of an allowance race for California-breds at Del Mar on Friday is expected to be redistributed in coming weeks after third-place finisher Its a Cinch was found to be ineligible.

The error was not realized before the race was run.

The allowance race was restricted to non-winners of a first-place purse of $21,000 or more once in races other than those restricted to maidens, claimers or in a starter allowance. Its a Cinch had won two such allowance races – at Santa Anita on turf in June 2025 and at Los Alamitos on dirt last December.

California-breds are allowed to win one allowance race in the “one other than” category on dirt and on turf before losing eligibility to start in such races.

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Del Mar racing secretary David Jerkens took blame for allowing Its a Cinch to be entered and start.

“It should have been caught,” he said. “We take full responsibility.”

Its a Cinch, a 4-year-old gelding, finished third in a field of eight in Friday’s ninth race, setting the pace before fading in the stretch. Its a Cinch, owned by Alison Fournogerakis and trained by Luis Mendez, earned $9,720 of the $82,500 purse.

Jerkens said his staff informed the other participants in the race of the mistake over the weekend.

According to California Horse Racing Board rules, one of the other participants in the race must lodge a formal protest with the regulatory agency within 72 hours of the race for the process to begin that will lead to the disqualification of Its a Cinch and a purse redistribution.

If a protest is lodged, which is widely expected, the case will be heard by track stewards at a date to be determined.

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